Author's Note: Nevan is from my independent Terran Empire series of novels and stories. He decided he wanted to play in Skyrim, and Brelyna's misadventures in "Brelyna's Practice" were the inspiration for how to get him here.

Chapter 37 - Newcomer

When they got to their usual target near Lakeview and moved closer to the building, they saw that construction workers were busy on the manor's wings, under the regard of a bronze Elder dragon. She was surprised that they seemed not to be uncomfortable working around him, and approached.

The dragon sat up when they approached him. "Drem yol lok, thuri Dovahkiin. I am Viinalunzin."

"Drem yol lok, Viinalunzin. Are you here for a special reason, or simply tinvaak?"

Tinvaak would be a pleasure, thuri, but Odahviing says our duties include guarding your home, in company with your housecarl. That is my primary reason for being here." He snorted a laugh. "Your workers were frightened of me at first, but calmed down when I spoke to Rayya and told her my mission."

"I am glad of both," Yssha told him. "There are dangers here that would be difficult for her, such as giants, but that a dragon should have no difficulty with."

Viinalunzin nodded. "Such was Odahviing's reasoning, thuri. And I am to give you a message from him. Since you lack wings, he will fly you wherever you wish to go. And he reserves that right to himself; the rest of us are restricted to lesser joorre."

"I thank you for that message, and him for the offer, which I accept gratefully. Those of you who have taken me as thur should be safe from most here, as all the Jarls - Bronjunne - have given orders that no dragon is to be attacked or harmed unless the dragon attacks first. But that may or may not apply to Altmer in black and gold robes and the soldiers with them. Those are Thalmor wizards and Justiciars, who are not technically subject to the Bronjunneu authority, and may see fit to ignore that prohibition."

"I will inform him, when my shift is over. This guard duty is not as boring as I feared. It is rather relaxing, in fact, watching those joorre build."

"We will leave you to it, then," Yssha said. "My ahmul and I have had a busy day. We need to eat and rest."

"Lok, Thu'um then, thuri. Another will replace me at daybreak."

"Lok, Thu'um, Viinalunzin."

Inside, the two changed from armor to house clothing, and Yssha went into the kitchen, finding several packets of herbs on the hearth. Good, those must be the tisane ingedients Reyya had mentioned buying - she could have her hot tisane in the morning! For now, though, she could use a glass of wine to help her relax. "What do you want to drink, beloved?" she called.

"Mead, please."

She grabbed the bottles and two glasses, then joined Marcurio at the dining table and cut each of them a piece of the Eidar cheese there. Sipping the wine and nibbling the cheese, she thought about what she should do the next day - unless something else unexpected turned up. It would be nice if she didn't have so many things she had to do, but they were her responsibilities, so she would simply have to do her best. Maybe it would help if she sounded it out to Marcurio, and got his help.

"Something bothering you, love?" he asked.

"Not bothering, so much as setting priorities, and I would like your help."

"Naturally," he said with a grin. "You can't do much with the Skyguard until you have more non-dov members, and Franken is handling that recruiting. The dov will probably trickle in on their own schedule, so nothing you can do about that, and talking to Tullius can wait until you have some idea of what kind of force you'll have to offer. Taarie wants two days for her surprise, so that's on hold as well. The Saarthal expedition, according to Tolfdir, you can get to just about any time. It looks to me like the most urgent is meeting up with Karliah, and she should be in Riften by now."

"I said help, but you have done it for me instead. Thank you, beloved." She leaned over and gave him an affectionate lick on the cheek. "So we are free until morning."

Shortly after breakfast, they went out and she called Odahviing. He was landing less than a minute later. "Drem yol lok, Dovahkiin. Where would you like to go?"

"Drem yol lok, Odahviing. "Riften, please, but I would rather not hurry. I relish our time in the air, and you are a very fast flier."

"Yes, I am. Not the fastest, but I can get you anywhere in Keizaal within minutes, and anywhere in Taazokaan in less than half an hour."

"That far?" Yssha was surprised, but happy. "In that case, perhaps we may visit my family when I have less to do!"

"I would be pleased to take you, thuri. Just tell me when you are ready and where you wish to go. But for now, a leisurely flight around Skyrim. Get on, and we will leave."

He extended a wing, and they climbed onto his neck. Then he sprang into the air, and more slowly than he'd flown to Skuldafn, took them over Falkreath, north past Markarth, along the mountains and coast, east past Solitude and Dawnstar, until Yssha saw a red flag flying over the College of Winterhold. "Could you land at the College, please?" she yelled into the wind.

Odahviing didn't answer verbally, just descended into the main courtyard to let them off. "I will be on one of the towers while you are inside," he said, taking off.

Yssha and Marcurio went into the Hall of Elements, and found the Archmage waiting. "Is there a problem?" she asked.

Savos Aren nodded. "At least in a sense. Tolfdir decided to wait for the Saarthal expedition until you could be here for the whole experience, and Brelyna Maryon had an ... accident in one of her Conjuration classes. She was trying to summon a Flame Atronach, but got something very different." He sighed. "She is powerful, but her control ... let's just say it leaves much to be desired. I thought you should be notified, Dragonborn, so I tried to attract one of your dragons to take you the news. I didn't expect you to show up yourself."

"I saw no damage on the way in, so how bad is it?"

"There's no damage, no, but it seems she ... er, inadvertently kidnapped a young man from some place he calls the Terran Empire. And that is easy to believe, because he is of a race never seen in Tamriel, and Urag says never on Nirn."

"And you cannot return him, am I correct?"

"When we know nothing of his home? No, we cannot. Which is a shame, because he is a very pleasant young man, and quite upset."

"I cannot blame him for that. So you wish me to meet him, and decide what to do with him."

"If you would, Dragonborn. He's a very private person, so Urag offered an unused workroom in the Arcaneum, since it has a door. He hasn't complained, except about not being able to go home. Come, I'll take you to him."

Yssha and Marcurio followed him, arriving at a closed door, and Savos knocked. "Nevan? It's the Archmage and two friends."

"Come in," a tenor voice invited.

When they entered, Yssha saw a young man like none she had ever seen before. He was about the size of a Khajiit, with deep bronze skin almost like an Elder dragon's but darker, and Nord-pale hair. He bowed politely, with near-Khajiit grace. "I am Nevan darLeras, a warrior of Clan Leras and a Field Agent in the Security Division of the Imperial Terran Marine Corps. My rank is Major. I would give you my ID number, but it would mean nothing to you. May I know who you are?

Yssha returned the bow, already liking this young man. "I am Yssha, of Clan and Family Ysshaya, called the Dragonborn and Dovahjud. I am also a Legate in the Imperial Legion, and Thane of the Nine Holds." Plus other titles, but that could wait. "This is Marcurio, my husband. He is a battlemage, and also a Thane of the Nine Holds. We all regret the accident that brought you here, away from your world and home.

"So the Archmage has told me, repeatedly, and even Brelyna Maryon apologized. I believe you." The young man sighed. "He's also told me there's no way he can send me home from this ... realm that seems to me like a video game, so I have to adapt. I suppose that's why he brought you in."

Yssha had no idea what a video game was, but nodded. "What does a 'Field Agent of the Security Division' do?"

The young man gave her an odd glance, then shrugged. "I guess it's no secret, here. Basically, whatever has to be done to protect the Empire. I've spied, stolen, done assassinations, pretty much anything like that when under cover. Openly, I'm a proper Imperial officer, conducting security investigations and protecting my ... Empress. You look a lot like her, except for the dark points."

Now that was interesting, Yssha thought, especially the hesitation, but for now ... "Your Empire also has various races?"

"Yes, and the Irschchans look a lot like you ... Khajiit, is it? We don't have anything like the Orcs or Argonians, but you don't seem to have anything like our Araneids or Traiti, either. And we don't have dragons. Not that I've seen any of those."

"You may, soon. I offer you a place in my household, since there is no way to send you home. Ah, do you know any magic?"

"No, but the Archmage says I have the ability. Why?"

"Because Marcurio and I are often in situations where we must use Healing on ourselves. If you cannot learn to Heal yourself, we cannot take you along on many missions, though you will still be welcome in my household." Yssha turned to Savos. "Could you perhaps find a Healing spell tome and bring it? I must find out if this warrior can learn what he needs."

"As you wish, Dragonborn. I'll be back shortly." Savos left, and Yssha turned back to the newcomer. "If it is not too rude, may I ask your race? You resemble parts of several here, but none are close to your combination."

He looked surprised. "I didn't say? I'm Sandeman, a race deliberately created by the standard-human Shapers, who tried to control us until the Overthrow. Another branch of Shapers created the Naj, snake-folk, but those Shapers treated their creations better, and the Naj love them almost as gods."

"We have no snake-folk, which I am happy for," Yssha said "Ah, if you choose to serve with me, what kind of armor and weapons do you prefer?"

"Kinds I'm pretty sure you don't have," the Sandeman replied. "I doubt you have force-field armor or lightsabers or blasters, so I suppose the best light armor and sword available. I can make do with practically anything, though."

"Then we shall speak to the smiths I know, though you may have the same problem I do of finding armor small enough. Here in Skyrim, most armor is crafted for large Nords, and you are only a little larger than I am. Which means a glass cuirass I have at home may fit you."

"That would be nice but ... what I need at the moment is combat or lovemaking." He grimaced. "Our Shapers were afraid of the warriors they created, so they engineered a control into us - a need cycle that means we have to have a major adrenaline rush like combat or sex every few days, or die a very unpleasant death. My cycle is five days, and this is midway through the fourth. So I'm getting pretty jittery. Uh, would your husband be up for a bit of hand-to-hand?"

Marcurio chuckled. "If necessary, but she's better at hand-to-hand than I am; I prefer ranged spells or this battleaxe on my back. She likes to get up close and personal."

The Archmage returned then, and handed the newcomer a book. "This is a spell tome. You need only read it to learn the Healing spell, then it will vanish."

"That sounds like a teaching tape, then, except those are reusable." He read it, then blinked a couple of times and nodded. "Got it. But that won't do anything about my need cycle." He turned to Yssha and bowed again. "Lady Yssha, I ask the life-combat of you, and soon."

"Immediately, then. Out in the courtyard." She led the way, and called up to Odahviing. "Do not interfere, please. This fight is non-hostile."

"Very well, thuri," he replied.

Yssha handed Marcurio her mace and started to remove her armor, but Nevan said, "Leave that on. This late in my cycle it's almost like battle-prep, so you'll need it. I'll step back and raise my hands when my need subsides. Go for it."

Need armor for hand-to-hand? That seemed unlikely, but she complied. And she'd try not to use her claws. He was waiting, so she launched an attack.

And found her hands full. The Sandeman was both far stronger and far faster than he looked, and more resilient than any other she'd brawled with. She found out quickly that he was right; she did need her armor as they fought their way around the courtyard. He was tricky, too, using grips and throws she was totally unfamiliar with, but she got a couple in that he didn't know, as well. There were a couple of times she had to cast Healing on herself, too, before he broke off the fight, stepping back and raising his hands.

Both of them were bruised and bleeding, but his eyes were bright and he was smiling as he bowed. "I thank you for the life-combat, Lady Yssha. You are a worthy opponent."

She returned the bow. "As are you, warrior. I think I would have done better against a sabercat." She purred briefly, trying to catch her breath. "Now try that Healing spell you just learned."

He nodded, and the glow of Restoration magic, stronger than her own, bathed his injuries as he healed himself. She did the same, sighing in relief as her own injuries faded.

Nevan grinned when he was done. "Nice! That's even faster and better than rapid-heal. Now what?"

"You said you have never seen a dragon." Yssha gestured upward. "I introduce you to Odahviing, a friend of mine, who is kind enough to fly us around."

Odahviing inclined his head as Nevan bowed and introduced himself. "You fight well. It is a good thing my thur told me not to interfere, or I probably would have killed you the first time you injured her."

"Thur?" Nevan looked curious. "What's that?"

"It means 'overlord'," Odahviing replied. "I swore fealty to her after she defeated the World-Eater in Sovngarde."

"I don't what those are, but we have a similar word, 'thakur', with a similar meaning, 'chosen lord'. I had one in my home universe, but it seems I'll never see her again." He sounded bereft at that, Yssha thought sympathetically. "It was a great honor when she accepted me as thakur-na, her other self."

"Hmm." Odahviing sounded much like Paarthurnax at that moment, Yssha thought. "You could do worse than to swear to Dovahkiin, though it may be too soon after your loss for that."

The Sandeman nodded. "It is, yes, but she's taken me into her household, so maybe later."

"Perhaps. Now, thuri, shall we continue to Riften? If so, it would be easier to take off from here rather than down there."

"Can you carry three?" Yssha asked. "I do not wish to overburden you."

"Three are not a problem, though if your team continues to grow, it may take two of us to transport everyone."

"All right. We will be up shortly."

On the way up to the top of the Hall of the Elements, Nevan said, "I warn you, Lady Yssha, that I'm going to have a lot of questions. Archmage Aren was as helpful as he could be, but I don't have the background to understand most of what he told me."

Yssha purred briefly. "That is understandable, and both of us will help. In turn, we will undoubtedly have questions about your universe."

"Fair enough." They stepped onto the roof, and Nevan's breath caught. "Gods, he's huge! How can he possibly fly?"

"The same way I speak," Odanviing replied. "By magic. We dov are magical by nature, thanks to our father Akatosh." He extended the upper part of his wing so they could mount. "Call to me if you feel too much discomfort, and I will land."

Nevan chuckled. "My clan trains pilots. Aerobatics don't faze me, so straight flight won't be a problem."

"Good. We go, then." And Odahviing launched himself and his passengers into the sky.

A/N: Elfendrago: I try to have at least 2,000 words per chapter, and usually more, but that's primarily determined by what's happening in the story. Some distinct happenings take more, some take substantially less, but when the second happens, I try to post a follow-up chapter soon after. I've done some independent fiction, yes, but space opera isn't too popular these days, so you only get Nevan. :
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